Turkey takes steps to tighten grip on judiciary

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A Turkish parliamentary committee is planning to debate a measure that would tighten Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's grip on the judiciary as his government fends off a corruption scandal that has implicated former Cabinet ministers.

The parliament's justice committee is scheduled on Friday to take up a government-proposed bill that would strengthen the justice ministry's hold on a council that appoints judges and prosecutors and oversees their work.

Erdogan insists the corruption charges are a conspiracy orchestrated by followers of an Islamic movement who he says have infiltrated the police and judiciary. He has vowed to fight back; the government has already removed hundreds of police officers from key posts.

Critics say the measure is an affront to the independence of the judiciary.